Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Shaking his head, Qiu Mingze returned to his main job: fishing.

After all, fishing isn't just about catching fish.

If you're just fishing for fish, why not use a net to catch them?

Looking at the mist that appeared after the waterspout dissipated, Qiu Mingze suddenly thought of something.

That was what happened a few days ago.

To be honest, Qiu Mingze still hasn't figured it out.

He usually suppressed his thoughts because of other things, but now that he has time to think quietly, Qiu Mingze can't help but recall what happened that day.

Cirno holding the Great Fairy's hand clearly indicates that they intend to enter the barrier together.

But why did Cirno choose to let go of the Great Fairy's hand and leave alone at the last moment?

And why are Yakumo Yukari and Orange there?

Is it simply because they want a free meal?

Qiu Mingze was also staring blankly at the river.

Upon careful reflection, there are indeed many suspicious points...

As he pondered this, Qiu Mingze also looked at Shameimaru Aya.

She must know, right? As someone with inside information.

These things happened to be revealed to her during a previous interview.

You might get some unexpected results if you ask.

So, Akira asked Aya Shameimaru, "Aya-san, do you remember that night you came to interview me?"

"How dare you say that!" Aya Shameimaru's pretty face flushed slightly as she recalled what had happened that night.

Thinking about it now, it's so embarrassing!

I was referring to the content of your interview.

Qiu Mingze quickly explained as well.

He was afraid that Aya Shameimaru would get angry again. Getting beaten up was a small matter; not being able to get the gossip was the real problem.

"Hmph! Of course I remember!"

"In the end, wasn't it you who was homeless and stayed with Reimu?" Aya Shameimaru asked with some doubt, "Is there some other point that was overlooked?"

"Ahem, let's put aside the fact that I live at the shrine. Actually, I wanted to ask you, do you know why Cirno chose not to enter the barrier with the Great Fairy?"

"Oh, so that's what you wanted to ask."

Aya Shameimaru smiled slyly and said, "I do know a little bit of inside information~"

"But this is content from my special edition. Do you want to know it in advance?"

Qiu Mingze nodded vigorously.

Nothing is more intriguing than a secret.

“You can find out in advance if you want, but you have to do something for me first,” Aya Shameimaru said, shaking her finger.

"......"

Qiu Mingze also fell silent.

If you have to do tasks just to hear a little gossip, you might as well just stay home and fish.

Who knows, maybe one day Cirno will get lost, or want to eat something delicious, and come looking for him.

It's not too late to ask her then.

"Hey! Weren't you eager to hear it just now?"

Seeing that Akihiro Akira was also silent, Aya Shameimaru became a little anxious.

However, Qiu Mingze ignored her, turned his head away, and stared at the buoy as it entered a state of nothingness.

This is commonly known as spacing out.

"Fine, if you don't want to know, I won't tell you."

After saying that, Aya Shameimaru turned her back somewhat sullenly.

Just then, a splashing sound came from the river.

Looks like a fish has taken the bait!

Qiu Mingze's fishing rod remained motionless, and he looked to his left.

Sure enough, it was Aya Shameimaru's fishhook that caught the fish.

Aya Shameimaru pulled the fishing rod upwards with all her might, stretching the thin, transparent fishing line taut.

The splashes from the fish in the water were also quite intense.

This made Qiu Mingze's scalp tingle.

At this rate, the fishing line will snap in no time!

Thinking of the fishing rod, Akira also grabbed Shameimaru Aya and said:

"Don't pull it up too hard right away. You'll easily break the fishing line if you do that. Let me show you how to do it."

As he spoke, Akira grabbed Aya Shameimaru's hand that was holding the fishing rod and controlled her as she battled the fish in the water.

It pulls up and down every now and then, then pulls up again and down again.

In summary, when the fish moves, I relax; when the fish is still, I pull.

They pulled at each other like that for quite a while.

Qiu Mingze also stared intently at the water, waiting for the right moment to pull it out.

"Humph."

Just then, Aya Shameimaru snorted.

Seeing that the commotion in the water was getting smaller, Qiu Mingze explained without turning his head.

"Wait a little longer, the fish will be ready to be pulled up soon."

After saying this, Aya Shameimaru stopped making a sound.

This did indeed make Qiu Mingze breathe a slight sigh of relief, as it is most important not to disturb someone during a tug-of-war.

If the fish escapes by accident, it will be a real shame.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Ink

It has a faint, foul odor, mixed with the smell of graphite, which is the standard smell of ink.

The room was filled with this smell, which lingered in the air and did not dissipate.

This is where Aya Shameimaru's newspaper office is located, situated in the Youkai Mountain.

Meanwhile, Qiu Mingze was hunched over a pine desk, proofreading.

To my shame, I originally said I wouldn't help Aya Shameimaru with this favor, but I couldn't resist the temptation of gossip and some persistent pleading, so I ended up here anyway.

After all, it's hard for a fisherman to resist being complimented on the size of his catch; he might easily agree before he knows it. Tactics like linking arms, having big, bright eyes, or speaking in a coquettish voice are useless compared to the sheer size of the fish.

After accepting Aya Shameimaru's invitation to do proofreading work, Akira followed her to the small wooden house hidden in the Youkai Mountain.

By "taking an airplane".

The ink smells a bit pungent, and Qiu Mingze seems to have become somewhat immune to it after smelling it so much.

The overwhelming smell when I first opened the door was simply overwhelming.

Ignoring the mess of papers on the ground, Akira Aya sat down in the spot designated by Aya Shameimaru and began his proofreading work.

However, even so, after looking at the neat and elegant handwriting on the special issue paper handed to him by Aya Shameimaru, he felt that there was nothing that could be modified.

As the saying goes, "You can tell a lot about a person by their handwriting." This neat and meticulous writing on the paper really doesn't reveal Aya Shameimaru's free-spirited nature at all; the contrast is quite striking.

Akira Akira always thought that the newspapers and news he saw were typed by Aya Shameimaru.

But when he arrived at the newspaper office, he discovered that there was no typewriter there at all, and every word was written by Aya Shameimaru herself.

So, which one is her true nature? Or is it neither?

Akira also glanced silently at Aya Shameimaru, who was operating the printing press.

After entering the house, she changed into work clothes and put on a pair of frameless flat glasses.

To be honest, this was the first time Qiu Mingze had seen Aya Shameimaru like this; she had an inexplicably capable air about her.

It's quite rare in Gensokyo; even when the kappa is wearing the same work clothes, he can only see their cuteness.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Aya Shameimaru noticed his gaze.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking that Miss Wenwen has this side to her."

Qiu Mingze also spoke frankly.

"What? You think it looks bad?"

"How could that be? I think it looks great."

Although Aya Shameimaru's hands are now covered in black ink, there is also a long black ink stain on her face.

But Akira Akira just thinks that the current Aya Shameimaru is very good-looking.

"Really? Looks like you have good taste." Shameimaru Aya said smugly, "Unlike Himekaidouka, who insisted on wearing a skirt even though it was stained with ink."

After saying that, Aya Shameimaru turned back to continue making preparations before starting the printing press.

However, from the faint humming sounds he could hear, Qiu Mingze sensed that she was in a good mood.

The printing press that Aya Shameimaru was operating occupied most of the room.

The cucumber logo printed on the matte body indicates that this is a printing press manufactured by Kappa Technology.

Although it's called Kappa technology, the materials required aren't particularly magical, at least not activated by cucumbers.

When this kappa printing press is in use, all you need to prepare is a sample to be copied, printing paper to be used as the copying material, and the essential ink, and it can print samples continuously.

However, it also has a small drawback. Perhaps because kappa are generally not very tall, the filling entrances for these three items are very low, which means that Aya Shameimaru has to bend over to fill the items properly.

So it's possible that this is why Aya Shameimaru accidentally got ink on her hands and then smeared it on her face.

Qiu Mingze was also secretly guessing.

Ever since the kappa power supply office demanded an outrageously high electricity fee that time, he has never hesitated to assume the kappa's true intentions.

Damn it! My little cucumber!!!

After gathering his thoughts, Qiu Mingze focused his attention on the special issue on the table.

In fact, the special edition didn't contain much content. Qiu Mingze carefully unfolded each page, which resembled a work of art, and read the contents written by Shameimaru Aya.

Many of the gossip stories seem quite intimidating.

For example, it's said that a certain chronicler of the human world was resurrected because he defeated a certain incorruptible Yama King with an elbow strike.

This is obviously fake; it's so ridiculously fabricated.

He had never heard of anyone dying, let alone being resurrected after death.

Miss Wenwen may have a talent for writing fantasy novels.

As Qiu Mingze turned the page, his pupils contracted sharply.

He saw a headline that took his breath away.

Shocking! The Ice Fairy is two-timing? And a mysterious man is deeply involved, trying to break them up?

What the heck is this?

At this moment, Qiu Mingze only wanted to pick up a brush and black out the entire title.

But reason prevailed over him; it was someone else's work, so he shouldn't damage it.